Strange power fan problem

[Master Chief 14]

I was on the computer yesterday then the power fan started to act a little funny. Normally it runs nice and quiet but now it makes a really loud noise and sounds like it could break down any second. The fan would also sometimes sound like it is pausing while running. I would normally turn off the surge protector if I am not using the computer but I'm not sure if that is the problem,could it be windows xp? Or should I replace the power fan?I'm pretty sure its the front fan but sometimes its the back fan that seems to malfunction.

[:|Dark|:]

could it be windows xp ?

How would xp break it??

It's best just to replace the fans that are making the noises. In the meantime you can try to clean them a bit using a can of compressed air.

The fan is just dying, get a replacement

[Bs|Archaon]

If it's the fan from your PSU, don't open it unless you know what you're doing, because at the very least it most likely won't take a standard fan, meaning you won't be able to change it; and you've then broken your warranty so it won't be replaced by the manufacturer even if it's in warranty.

[carl4286]

There's really no such thing as a fan that isn't standard. Any fan that they can get their hands on, you can too. Besides, 99.999% chance that it uses either an 80x25mm fan or a 120x25mm fan.

The fan is most likely on its death bed, and will need to be replaced. Keep in mind though tha replacing the fan in the powersupply might involve some minor soldering, and will void your warranty. It may be easier/wiser/a better investment to buy a new power supply.

....this is a power supply fan we're talking about right? If it's just a case fan, it can be replaced in two seconds with pretty much no risk at all.

[Bs|Archaon]

Yes, except that a lot of PSUs don't use a 3 or 4 pin connection, they used a 2 pin one. If they use a connector at all, in which case it needs soldering. So I would think that if you have to solder it and/or chop up the connections, I can justify saying that the PSU most likely won't take a standard fan.

[:|Dark|:]

Problem fixed?

[carl4286]

Originally Posted by Bs|Archaon

Yes, except that a lot of PSUs don't use a 3 or 4 pin connection, they used a 2 pin one.

That's because the 3rd pin is used to report RPM's of your fans for your viewing pleasure, and the 4th pin is only used in PWM fans. Since power supply's don't care about the fan's RPM (they only read their internal temperature, and raise/lower the fans voltage to increase/decreas cooling) and they don't use PWM fans, a 2 pin connection (weather its a standard header or a soldered connection) is all you need.

Originally Posted by Bs|Archaon

So I would think that if you have to solder it and/or chop up the connections, I can justify saying that the PSU most likely won't take a standard fan.

Why would you say that? Soldering is a more permanent attatchment than a standard fan header. Since the connection is inside the power supply and impossible to get to without voiding your warranty, they wanted to make sure it woulnd't come loose.

It's almost definately a standard 80mm or 120mm computer fan, even if it needs to be soldered.

[Bs|Archaon]

Not meaning any offence to MC14, would someone who knew how to do that ask whether it could be Win XP causing the problem?

So rather than saying that it can be done easily, would it not be logical to warn him that swapping it isn't actually going to be so simple as unplugging and unscrewing the old fan, and connecting and screwing in the new one?

And no it's not a standard fan because PC standards cover more than physical dimensions. Just like would it be a standard ATX board if the company decided that a 20 pin connector isn't good enough and that it's gotta have 30 pins? Would it? No.